I always recommend folks try different kinds of nibs to see what they like. Once I tried flex, I had to have it & use it for every-day writing. When I buy a non-flex pen 'cause I like the aesthetics, I always end up disappointed & rarely using it. That's the fun thing about fountain pens tho - you have so many options!
Well, a soft gold nib is NOT a flex nib, and should never, ever be flexed. It is, as Brian Goulet put it, intended to be a "shock absorber". That is a perfect description. It's meant to absorb the little twitches and tiny jerks we all have when we write too long. You do have to learn how to use a soft nib, but once you do it will greatly improve your writing, and will all but eliminate hand fatigue and cramping. But start flexing one and you will very slowly damage the nib severely. You may not even realize there's a nib problem for a long time. But the pen will start having hard starts, or skipping, or even leak. Only FLEX nibs, or nibs actually called semi-flex nibs like the one on the original Falcon, should ever be flexed. The number of damaged nibs caused by flexing a soft nib is far and away the most common problem with pens people have sent me to repair. They usually have no clue what's wrong with the pen. Most often, they say it just doesn't write as well as it used to, or it skips, or it has hard starts cause by a nib that's just a little bit bent, or it leaks, or, as I say, it just doesn't write as well as it used to when new. The sad thing is that people often sell these pens, completely unaware they're selling someone else problems that will probably get worse and worse. It's simply a horrible idea, and completely unnecessary. Used correctly, a soft gold nib is the best writing aid you can have. But when flexed it will slowly become damaged.
Thanks for the clarification. When I bought my Pilot Custom 743 with a soft medium nib in a nice little shop in Tokio, the shop owner pointed out the same. The soft nib is not intended for flex writing, only for the feeling, when writing with it.
So, of the pens shown in the video, only the Falcon (and not the FA nib on the 912 or the 743) should be flexed? Is that what you mean by the "original Falcon"? Thanks :)
BTW great videos. I'm jealous of your collection. I don't really use my flex nibs for regular writing. Like you I have a light hand. My preferences for everyday writers is usually based on smoothness which tends to be on the harder side. Pelikan m800 B, Lamy Studio w/ 14k medium, Pilot 823m and Sailor Pro gear 21km are all amazingly smooth for notes and work. My "flex nibs" are all for fun and meditative writing. I have found that the better my calligraphy writing gets the better my regular quick simple writing looks as well.
I know what you are saying, for myself I really like a Noodler's flex nib in my edc pens. The reason being that while being designed to flex, they are actually quite stiff, so for my normal writing tasks it's no different than a preppy or some other hard nib pen, but when I go to sign my name, I can flex the first letter quite significantly and add a lot of flair to my signature. I have two of these nibs, one is stock and the other I've stubbed for an edc italic flex nib, that one is my favorite nib for about 6 years now. Because it's stiff,, I wouldn't recommend the Noodler's nib for long sessions of calligraphy, although I have done it, it really gives the hand a work out.
I have a Montblanc ballpoint pen. Don't really use it much as I pretty much use fountain pens only nowadays! I have plenty of ink to feed my fountain pens for a very long time.
So I have a custom heritage 912 FA always inked up and on my desk, but it's one of the rarest pins I reach for for the very reasons you mentioned. It's a great pen for fun or for titling / headers, but not really for jotting anything longer than a short note. I love it though and I use it whenever I want my handwriting to have special style, even more than I would reach for a stub or a cursive italic or the like
I agree, the SF is a great choice for the #10 Pilot Nib especially if you use darker inks as it will show off line variation. The start of the stroke is way finer than the SFM also.
Nice video! One of my daily pens is the Pilot Custom 823 Soft Medium: an awesome nib. Oh... you are missing the Pelikan Souveran m1000 fine nib: really, really, really soft, bouncy, smooth and wet!
This was a very interesting and revealing video. I don't own many soft or flex nibbed pens. The ones that I do have are mostly vintage and the problem is I never use them as regular daily writers. I much prefer a stiff nib. So my flex pens only come out once in a while for a bit of fun and I might only half fill them. Unless you can control them, flex nibs can be something of a nightmare. Anyone practiced in the fine art of calligraphy will probably enjoy and know how to use soft and flex pens. For them, this type of nib shows off their craft very well.
I agree with this comment, specifically and ebonite feed. They have two options, a two channel and a three channel ebonite feed. I have the two channel feed and it is super wet as it is. Some people give a caveat that this may alter the pilot warranty FYI
For real flex, nothing compares with vintage from the 1920s and earlier.😁 For me, depends on my mood what I will use. Have a "wet noodle" (flex with no pressure needed outside of your normal handwriting) 1912 Mabie Todd Swan C2, several fairly flexible Sheaffer's Balance Jr's and a Waterman's Taperite, through Sheaffer's Lifetime pens and an Esterbrook Manifold nib you could drive into seasoned oak without damage. Plus modern pens. Really just depends on what I plan to write. Smooth and no skipping is my biggest deciding factor. 😁
Great topic, comparison and tips. It was interesting to hear about the smoothness of the nibs. I did not see much line variation in any of the pens which was a dis-appointment in particular the Pilot Falcon , I would of expected more line variation. The comment a the end of the 2 pens (preppy) you use on a daily basis was good to know, thank you
Quite informative.. I’ve never considered getting anything other than ‘regular’ Medium or ‘regular’ Fine since I use my pens for just ‘conventional’ writing.. I guess I’ll continue doing so.. Only exception was I had once been thinking of insanely priced Justus 95 (400 USD here in India), but I saw many users’ review comments that its ‘adjustable softness’ feature is gimmicky and it doesn’t work as expected, so I lost interest..
I change my mind on what I like in a nib all the time still when it comes to soft versus hard nibs. As long as a nib has a hint of feedback while still being smooth I’ll likely enjoy it. My softest nib is a 743 soft fine which is pretty nice. I do think I’m starting to appreciate firmer nibs more than I used to though. I love my 743 extra fine and and Pelikan M805 fine too. Each of them has its own distinct feel. The next vest nib I’ve ever felt is the 18k #15 Pilot fine. It made me seriously consider getting an 845, though I think I’d like a pen with a bit more diameter than those I have at the section so I may go with something else as I look for my perfect everyday writer.
You forgot the unbelievable Pilot Justus 95 two in one! and I will answer: Yes you should....sorry you dont' forgot it. I'am not a writer I coming from the artist side1 ! and for me maybe its helps : I would starting with e 743 Fa an ioam ending in precise by the lovely Platinum M nib sizes may in Future withe the 3776 music nib for the bread strokes .... Maybe it helps for the artist side... sorry imnota English but hope everyone understand what I means.. Thank you for the great impression and video
I always recommend folks try different kinds of nibs to see what they like.
Once I tried flex, I had to have it & use it for every-day writing. When I buy a non-flex pen 'cause I like the aesthetics, I always end up disappointed & rarely using it.
That's the fun thing about fountain pens tho - you have so many options!
Thanks for your comment and sharing what you think!
I use a 912 FA Daily myself. Love it.
Well, a soft gold nib is NOT a flex nib, and should never, ever be flexed. It is, as Brian Goulet put it, intended to be a "shock absorber". That is a perfect description. It's meant to absorb the little twitches and tiny jerks we all have when we write too long. You do have to learn how to use a soft nib, but once you do it will greatly improve your writing, and will all but eliminate hand fatigue and cramping.
But start flexing one and you will very slowly damage the nib severely. You may not even realize there's a nib problem for a long time. But the pen will start having hard starts, or skipping, or even leak. Only FLEX nibs, or nibs actually called semi-flex nibs like the one on the original Falcon, should ever be flexed. The number of damaged nibs caused by flexing a soft nib is far and away the most common problem with pens people have sent me to repair. They usually have no clue what's wrong with the pen. Most often, they say it just doesn't write as well as it used to, or it skips, or it has hard starts cause by a nib that's just a little bit bent, or it leaks, or, as I say, it just doesn't write as well as it used to when new.
The sad thing is that people often sell these pens, completely unaware they're selling someone else problems that will probably get worse and worse.
It's simply a horrible idea, and completely unnecessary. Used correctly, a soft gold nib is the best writing aid you can have. But when flexed it will slowly become damaged.
Thanks for the clarification. When I bought my Pilot Custom 743 with a soft medium nib in a nice little shop in Tokio, the shop owner pointed out the same. The soft nib is not intended for flex writing, only for the feeling, when writing with it.
So, of the pens shown in the video, only the Falcon (and not the FA nib on the 912 or the 743) should be flexed? Is that what you mean by the "original Falcon"? Thanks :)
Great to know. Thank you.
BTW great videos. I'm jealous of your collection. I don't really use my flex nibs for regular writing. Like you I have a light hand. My preferences for everyday writers is usually based on smoothness which tends to be on the harder side. Pelikan m800 B, Lamy Studio w/ 14k medium, Pilot 823m and Sailor Pro gear 21km are all amazingly smooth for notes and work. My "flex nibs" are all for fun and meditative writing. I have found that the better my calligraphy writing gets the better my regular quick simple writing looks as well.
I know what you are saying, for myself I really like a Noodler's flex nib in my edc pens. The reason being that while being designed to flex, they are actually quite stiff, so for my normal writing tasks it's no different than a preppy or some other hard nib pen, but when I go to sign my name, I can flex the first letter quite significantly and add a lot of flair to my signature. I have two of these nibs, one is stock and the other I've stubbed for an edc italic flex nib, that one is my favorite nib for about 6 years now. Because it's stiff,, I wouldn't recommend the Noodler's nib for long sessions of calligraphy, although I have done it, it really gives the hand a work out.
Have you considered Montblanc RollerBall pens? Pros and cons?
I have a Montblanc ballpoint pen. Don't really use it much as I pretty much use fountain pens only nowadays! I have plenty of ink to feed my fountain pens for a very long time.
So I have a custom heritage 912 FA always inked up and on my desk, but it's one of the rarest pins I reach for for the very reasons you mentioned. It's a great pen for fun or for titling / headers, but not really for jotting anything longer than a short note. I love it though and I use it whenever I want my handwriting to have special style, even more than I would reach for a stub or a cursive italic or the like
My sentiments exactly. Thanks Chad
Man I have the 912 sf and it has a really good line variation. I like it way better than the sfm
I agree, the SF is a great choice for the #10 Pilot Nib especially if you use darker inks as it will show off line variation. The start of the stroke is way finer than the SFM also.
Nice video! One of my daily pens is the Pilot Custom 823 Soft Medium: an awesome nib. Oh... you are missing the Pelikan Souveran m1000 fine nib: really, really, really soft, bouncy, smooth and wet!
This was a very interesting and revealing video. I don't own many soft or flex nibbed pens. The ones that I do have are mostly vintage and the problem is I never use them as regular daily writers. I much prefer a stiff nib. So my flex pens only come out once in a while for a bit of fun and I might only half fill them. Unless you can control them, flex nibs can be something of a nightmare. Anyone practiced in the fine art of calligraphy will probably enjoy and know how to use soft and flex pens. For them, this type of nib shows off their craft very well.
you need a better feed from flex nib factory for your FA nib
I agree with this comment, specifically and ebonite feed. They have two options, a two channel and a three channel ebonite feed. I have the two channel feed and it is super wet as it is.
Some people give a caveat that this may alter the pilot warranty FYI
Thanks for your comment. If you write with light pressure, which I do, there is really no need to change the feed for this nib..
I also have the after market 3 channel ebonite feed. It was night and day between experience between having and not having it.
For real flex, nothing compares with vintage from the 1920s and earlier.😁
For me, depends on my mood what I will use. Have a "wet noodle" (flex with no pressure needed outside of your normal handwriting) 1912 Mabie Todd Swan C2, several fairly flexible Sheaffer's Balance Jr's and a Waterman's Taperite, through Sheaffer's Lifetime pens and an Esterbrook Manifold nib you could drive into seasoned oak without damage. Plus modern pens.
Really just depends on what I plan to write. Smooth and no skipping is my biggest deciding factor. 😁
Great topic, comparison and tips. It was interesting to hear about the smoothness of the nibs. I did not see much line variation in any of the pens which was a dis-appointment in particular the Pilot Falcon , I would of expected more line variation. The comment a the end of the 2 pens (preppy) you use on a daily basis was good to know, thank you
Glad you found it interesting!
Excellent discussion of the different nibs. Subscribed !
Good day. Can you make a similar review for the FPR flex nibs?
Quite informative..
I’ve never considered getting anything other than ‘regular’ Medium or ‘regular’ Fine since I use my pens for just ‘conventional’ writing..
I guess I’ll continue doing so..
Only exception was I had once been thinking of insanely priced Justus 95 (400 USD here in India), but I saw many users’ review comments that its ‘adjustable softness’ feature is gimmicky and it doesn’t work as expected, so I lost interest..
I change my mind on what I like in a nib all the time still when it comes to soft versus hard nibs. As long as a nib has a hint of feedback while still being smooth I’ll likely enjoy it. My softest nib is a 743 soft fine which is pretty nice. I do think I’m starting to appreciate firmer nibs more than I used to though. I love my 743 extra fine and and Pelikan M805 fine too. Each of them has its own distinct feel. The next vest nib I’ve ever felt is the 18k #15 Pilot fine. It made me seriously consider getting an 845, though I think I’d like a pen with a bit more diameter than those I have at the section so I may go with something else as I look for my perfect everyday writer.
Thanks for your comments Adam. 14k 743 EF should be amazing, same for 18k 845 Fine.
I think everyone should have at least one. the feeling is pretty unique to fountain pens
My daily driver is safari with Lamy gold oblique med nib
Flexible Nib Factory's ebonite feed pretty much fixed railroading on my 823.
thank you very much , just what i wanted to see!
Glad to help!
You forgot the unbelievable Pilot Justus 95 two in one! and I will answer: Yes you should....sorry you dont' forgot it. I'am not a writer I coming from the artist side1 ! and for me maybe its helps : I would starting with e 743 Fa an ioam ending in precise by the lovely Platinum M nib sizes may in Future withe the 3776 music nib for the bread strokes .... Maybe it helps for the artist side... sorry imnota English but hope everyone understand what I means.. Thank you for the great impression and video
Nice vid